Solar cooker and heater

ABSTRACT

The Solar Cooker is easy to build solar radiation collection system with the ability to produce high radiation energy from a large reflector or reflectors. The system consists of a main primary radiation reflector and a secondary radiation reflector that are made from reflective materials such as: mylar, film, mirror, metal etc. The secondary reflector is much narrower and smaller then the main reflector. The primary reflector sheet is curved to parabolic form and reflects the radiation in linear form to the secondary reflector. The secondary reflector, at a 90 degree angle from the main reflector, transfers the linear reflected line to a smaller area. The system is designed to be sole energy producer or an auxiliary energy generator for the solar ovens that are design to collect radiation from the top.

The Solar Cooker is an economical and easy to build solar radiationcollection system with the ability to produce high radiation energy. Theamount of energy produced depends on the size of the primary reflectoror on the number of primary reflectors used to reflect the radiation tothe secondary reflector. The system consists of a main primary radiationreflector (or primary reflectors) and a secondary radiation reflector.The surface of primary and secondary reflectors are made from reflectivematerials such as: mylar, film, mirror, metal etc. The secondaryreflector is much smaller and narrower then the main reflector. Theprimary reflector sheet is curved (bent) close to parabolic form aspossible and reflects the radiation in linear form (line) to thesecondary reflector. The secondary reflector, which is curved (bent) ata 90 degree angle from the main reflector, transfers and changes thelinear reflected line to a point (spot, smaller area). The primary andsecondary reflectors are design to be in a fixed position and/oradjustable, movable and detachable. Both the primary and or secondaryreflector has a mechanism for adjusting the inclination for focusingpurposes. The system accommodates multiple primary reflectors that arefocus on a secondary reflector to produce more radiation energy. Thesystem is designed to be sole energy producer or an auxiliary energygenerator for the solar ovens that are design to collect radiation fromthe top.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

The system is one of the most economical methods of harnessing theradiation from the sun. The system acts like a huge magnifying glass ora dish in the size of the primary reflector which is focused to produceenergy.

Most of the related U.S. Patents are based on heating from the top wheresun energy is collected and others use parabolic dish type collectors tocollect solar radiation.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,938,497 to Andrassy discloses a moveable apparatus tofind a favorable position of the sun. Likewise U.S. Pat. No. 4,111,184discloses how a parabolic reflector is adjusted to the sun.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,249,511 to Krisst et al. discloses a parabolic dishreflector which acts as a grill in focal point.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,696,285 to Zwach discloses a primary and a secondaryparabolic dish which reflect the radiation from the top.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,848,320 to Burn et al. discloses a collapsible reflectorwith a self-leveling tray to keep the food level within the interior ofthe oven.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,841,946 to Marks discloses dish type solar collector anheater and the movements of the unit is controlled electronically.

SUMMARY

The design is a solar heating and cooking system which uses a curved(bent) flat sheet of reflector material and reflects a line to asecondary much smaller reflector, which in turn reflects the line to apoint. The system heats and cooks from the top and from the bottom justlike a grill.

Nemat Ghausi

3121 Harbour Shore Lane

Elk Grove, Calif. 95758

Aug. 11, 2003

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 show the principle of operation.

FIG. 2 shows the side view of the system.

FIG. 3 shows the close up of secondary reflector in a housing unit.

FIG. 4 shows a photo of a prototype where the temperature reached over400 degrees f under glass cover in open air.

1- The system consists of a primary reflector that reflects radiation ina linear form to the secondary reflector. The secondary reflectorconverts the linear line or lines to a point or spot. The main reflectorconsists of a sheet of reflector curved close to parabolic, to focusradiation to in a line form. If the curve of the reflector sheet is aperfect parabolic curve, the line produced is a sharp line. Thecurvature of the reflector sheet does not have to be perfect paraboliccurves. If the curve of the primary sheet is not a perfect parabolicthen the lines of various thickness will be produced depending on theroughness and closeness to a parabolic curve. The secondary reflector iscurved (bent) in 90 degrees angle from the primary reflector. Thereflected radiation lines from the primary reflector is changed by thesecondary reflector and focused to a spot (point). A perfect paraboliccurved sheet produces sharper lines from the main reflector tosecondary. That in return means a sharper point from the secondaryreflector and higher radiation energy. 2- The system in claim 1, acceptsmultiple primary reflectors; each of which are focused on a secondaryreflector. 3- The system in claim 1 accommodates electronic circuits,sensors and servomotors to align the reflectors to the sun during theday. Or, the inclination of the primary reflector is controlled bysupporting rod or by means of a locking mechanism. 4- The primaryreflector in claim 1 accommodates inclination adjustability and can bemounted in a fixed position and the secondary reflector is adjustableand movable to obtain the desired maximum radiation. For manualoperation, the primary reflector accommodates wheels for ease ofmovement. 5- The length of the secondary reflector is longer than thewidth of the widest primary reflector. The secondary reflector is evenlarger, if to accommodate different positions of the sun and multiplenumbers of primary reflectors. 6- The secondary reflector accommodatesinclination adjustability and can be mounted in a fixed location and theprimary reflector is adjustable and movable to obtain desired focus andradiation. If the secondary reflector optionally has an elongatedparabolic shape which will add to the efficiency of the claim 1 system.7- The secondary reflector is housed in proper heat resisting materialsand covered on the other three sides for safety. 8- The system in claim1 is easy to use and heats from the bottom; like cooking on a grill. 9-The secondary reflector accommodates adjusting the amount of radiationby controlling the focal point. A mechanism to squeeze and/or release isused to control and change the focal point. 10- The secondaryreflector's housing unit accommodates electric coils for cooking whenthere is no sun. 11- The system in claim 1 is easy to manufacture whencompared to parabolic dishes or some other concave options. 12- Thesystem in claim 1 is accommodating and serves as an auxiliary heatingsystem for the solar oven which collects radiation from the top. 13- Thesystem in claim 1 is accommodating and serves as water heater by placinga water tank in place of an oven unit. 14- The system in claim 1accommodates and serves as heat generator for electric power or power topower storage depot. 15- The system in claim 1 accommodates all in oneunit. That is the primary reflector is in the bottom and the secondaryreflector is a lens type reflector and located just under the cookingsurface. 16- The principle of operation of primary reflector in claim 1accommodates a large reflector surface more radiation energy for theovens or energy depot (water tanks) that collects radiation from thetop.